This morning we continued to journey through Matthews Gospel 18: 21&22. and Peters question Lord how many times should I forgive my brother and sister....7 times? I found this question interesting....for if you notice Peter offers an answer. Forgiveness is a difficult virtue and grace to dispense....due to our reluctance to lavish forgiveness on someone who has transgressed against us. I used two illustrations today, one from the Oscar Pistorius case where the family of Reeva Steemkamp are faced with a nightmare situation....how would you forgive in this situation? ...with enormous difficulty! the second illustration of a congregationalist David Haines executed by ISIS extremists. These are two extreme examples yet forgiveness is part of a process upon which and if we arrive at...we can begin to move on in our lives. Jesus answered Peter by saying seventy times seven the example that Jesus drew on, was of Gods sovereign grace and forgiveness. In this example we uncover love personified in the atoning sacrifice of Gods son on the cross of Calvary.....for forgiveness flowed. If God has forgiving you and I...then we are challenged to forgive much. The sermon title was Should I forgive? the answer is yours to find!
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 14:57:39 +0000